THE LINGERS’ EXPERIENCE LIVES ON

After Lingfield had edged their FA Vase first qualifying round tie via a 5-4 penalty shoot-out success at Kent Football United, having been deadlocked at 3-3 after extra-time, Dixie Dean’s men were at it again in league action at the Salts.

Yet this time Lingers’ feelings were in stark contrast, having surrendered a 3-0 interval lead following an outstanding first-half performance, settling for a share of the spoils in a nail-biting finale which could have been billed like the nearby Battle of Hastings.

The high-flying hosts had been swept aside contemptuously by lively Lingers who romped into their emphatic advantage in the opening minutes of this tempestuous affair, having been aided by wise pre-match words from successful Under 18s’ boss Bobby Bryce, drafted in especially by Dean.

The deadlock was broken after only eight minutes when referee Kevin Rogers adjudged that Ryan Alexander had fouled Harry Sintim inside the penalty area and Daryl Coleman beat goalkeeper Yanni Camara from the resultant spot-kick.

Lingers increased their lead on 20 minutes when attacking Japanese newcomer Hidekazu Sato followed a surging run by firing home inside the near post from 20 yards, leaving Camara helpless.

The visitors were in seventh heaven four minutes later as Jamie Lawrence combined well with fellow former professional striker Nicky Forster, crossing splendidly from the left for Forster to control the ball well and shoot home clinically at the far post past an overworked Camara.

After 69 minutes Lingers suffered a hammer blow when experienced sweeper Dean Hamlin was carried off the field with a badly twisted ankle, being replaced by young Kieran Boon.

The game however hinged on a highly controversial 71st minute penalty decision when second half super sub Liam Upton beat Rob O’Hara from the spot after Coleman had been penalised inexplicably for an apparent foul on joint player-manager and captain Anthony Storey on the edge of the box.

Storey had been involved only minutes earlier in an extraordinarily prolonged second half slanging match with team-mate Alexander as the hosts seemed to be intent on pulling themselves apart.

Yet their spot-kick lifeline concentrated their efforts again crucially and the hosts reduced the arrears still further after 82 minutes when Upton completed his brace with a 25 yard deflected effort past O’Hara.

Cue another frantic finale for the second time in seven days but this time last gasp heartache for the visitors. A minute into stoppage-time Lingers thought that they had sealed success when Forster set up substitute Glenn Boosey who fired home, only to be denied by an offside flag. To add insult to injury, Rye grabbed their late leveller in the third additional minute as Ben Radley headed home Storey’s left-wing corner at the far post, sparking wild celebrations in the home camp.

By David Groves